Captured

Derek's POVJust then, a waiter walked toward me."Can I get your order, sir?" he asked, forcing a smile.Before I could answer, my eyes landed on a man sitting alone with several expensive liquor bottles scattered across his table. He smoked a cigar leisurely, his gaze never leaving me.Why was he staring at me like that?"Sir?" the waiter called, pulling my attention back.I looked at him."I know I've seen you before, though I can't remember where." His smile remained, but his voice dropped so low I almost missed it. "You need to run. They're after you."They're here already?My eyes widened as I looked back at the stranger.He was still watching me as a slow smirk spread across his lips.He's definitely one of them.The waiter straightened up, raising his voice again as if nothing had happened."Alright, sir. I'll get your order right away."Then he walked off.My hands trembled as I pulled out my phone and quickly typed:[Liora, Lorenzo and his gang are after us. I don't even kno

Save Him

Liora's POVMy heart pounded against my ribs as I rose to my feet.The moment the call ended, I immediately forwarded the recording I'd secretly captured to Jade.Please... let us not be too late.With trembling fingers, I opened the location-tracking app Derek and I had installed on each other's phones months ago.The loading icon spun, then a blinking blue dot appeared.Relief and terror collided inside me."I found him."My voice shook as I turned toward the bodyguards."We're leaving. Now."Neither of them wasted a second. They fell into step behind me as we rushed out of the house.The car sped through the streets, weaving between traffic while I kept my eyes glued to the moving location on my phone.The blue dot continued shifting; he was still moving.Please... stay alive.I quickly dialed Jade as she answered almost instantly. "Ma'am.""Send the recording to the police immediately. I want officers surrounding us, track our location. Use the recording as evidence. No delays.""

Until You Wake

Liora's POVTears rolled down my cheeks as I sat in the hospital lobby.Derek... please come back to me.I clasped my hands tightly together. "Liora."At the sound of my mum's voice, I turned and saw her walking toward me with Jade.I rushed into her arms and hugged her tightly."It's okay... it's okay," Mum whispered repeatedly as she rubbed my back.She gently guided me back to the waiting area, and we sat down, my head resting against her shoulder.A moment later, a nurse stepped out, and I quickly shot to my feet."How's he?" I asked.But she didn't answer. Instead, she hurried away."Calm down, Liora," Mum said, holding my hand."How can I be calm..." My voice softened painfully. "When Derek is in there?"She gently stroked my hair."His mother will be here soon," she said.I looked up at her, my eyes widening.Just then, Aurora's tiny voice rang out."Mummy!"I turned and saw her struggling to keep up with Derek's mother. The moment she was let down, Aurora ran straight toward

I'll Wait For You

Liora's POVThe ICU doors slid open, and Derek's mother and I stepped inside.Derek lay motionless on the hospital bed, his eyes peacefully shut.A clear oxygen cannula rested beneath his nose, while an IV line disappeared into the back of his hand.His left arm was wrapped in thick white bandages and secured in a sling to prevent movement. One of his legs was heavily bandaged as well, slightly elevated on a pillow.Machines surrounded him, their monitors flashing numbers and steady rhythms.Seeing him like this shattered me.A sob escaped before I could stop it."Derek..."His name broke apart on my lips.Beside me, his mother covered her mouth as silent tears streamed down her face."My baby..."Her trembling whisper barely reached my ears.She slowly walked to his bedside and gently brushed a few strands of hair away from his forehead."When you were little," she whispered softly, "you always hated hospitals. The moment you smelled medicine, you'd start crying."A fragile smile app

A Second Chance

Liora's POV“Are you sure about what you're saying?” Derek's mother asked, still looking at me in disbelief.I nodded, unable to hide the smile spreading across my face as a tear slipped down my cheek.Without another word, she turned and hurried toward the ICU doors. My mother and Jade followed closely behind her.Before I could take another step, Aurora came running toward me.“Mummy!”I quickly bent down and lifted her into my arms, holding her tightly against my chest.“I want to see Daddy,” she whispered, her lower lip trembling as tears gathered in her eyes.I gently rubbed her back, trying to soothe her.“Daddy is resting right now, sweetheart. He'll wake up and see you soon.”Rora, darling… you had no idea what was happening. You were too young to understand how close we'd come to losing your father.A few minutes later, the ICU doors opened, and Derek's mother stepped out first. Her entire expression had changed; the worry in her eyes had been replaced with relief.“You were

She's Missing

Liora’s POV*Days later*Derek was doing much better now and was finally ready to resume work.I swung my bag over my shoulder and joined everyone at the dining table.“Mummy!” Aurora called excitedly as she ran toward me, dressed in her school uniform.I bent down and lifted her into my arms.“Good morning,” she greeted with a bright smile.“Morning, Rora, darling,” I murmured, playfully pressing my forehead against hers.She giggled.“Liora, come join us,” Derek’s mother called.I forced a smile before walking over. I placed Aurora on her chair and took my seat beside her.“So, I’ll be leaving soon,” Derek’s mother announced.Oh, thank goddess.Her gaze shifted toward Aurora before settling on me.“But I hope you all won’t miss me too much.”Not even a little.I forced another smile.“Also, I heard Starlight will be having a meeting with Madison Enterprise in two days. It’s a very important meeting. Your mother doesn’t take her dealings with them lightly,” she continued.I know that